Snow removal apparatus



Feb. 25, 1969 c. B. MERRY SNow REMOVAL APPARATUS Filed Aug. 27, 1965 FIG. 2

lllllmllll INVENTOR. E

ATTORNEYS A United States Patent C 3,429,060 SNOW REMOVAL APPARATUS Clayton B. Merry, Star Rte., Leavenworth, Wash. 98826 Filed Aug. 27, 1965, Ser. No. 483,244 U.S. Cl. 37-43 Int. Cl. E01h 5 /09 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to snow removal apparatus. More particularly, this invention relates to powered snow removal equipment adapted for use around the home on sidewalks, driveways and the like.

Small snow removal equipment powered either by gasoline engines or electric motors and adapted for use around the home are usually complicated and expensive mechanical devices. Such devices are often relatively heavy and inconvenient to maneuver.

A primary object of this invention is to provide a powered snow removal apparatus that has a relatively uncomplicated mechanical structure, and hence is less costly than many known powered snow removal devices. Another object is to provide such an apparatus that is especially suitable for removing snow and ice from sidewalks, driveways and other areas found around the home.

These and other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings, of which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention that is particularly suited to homeowner usage;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the snow removal mechanism in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a side cross-sectional view along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2 with a gasoline engine shown in dotted line form.

Although the invention is primarily intended for snow removal around the home, it should be noted from the outset that this is merely a use of the preferred embodiment and that the mechanical features to be described herein are not limited to such use.

In general, the snow removal apparatus of this invention comprises a snow cutting member that is freely rotatable about a rst axis and is supported by another member which is rotatable about a second axis. The snow cutting support member is so mounted in the snow removal apparatus that snow discharged from the snow cutting member will be deflected outward from the apparatus by a snow deector. More specically, this comprises a frame having a bottom snow skid, a front snow detlector, a rear steering control handle, power means carried by the frame behind the deflector, a pair of laterally spaced wheels coupled together and journalmounted on the frame about a wheel axis forwardly of the deflector, power transfer means for driving the wheels from the power means, and a combination snow cutting and throwing means journaled between the wheels and carried thereby. The snow cutting and throwing means turns about a swing axis parallel to and around the wheel axis and is arranged to swing outwardly from the swing axis during rotation of the wheels to sever snow during r'ce downward travel and to track adjacent the defiector during upward travel so that snow is trapped and thrown outwardly.

FIG. l shows a gasoline engine powered embodiment of this invention which comprises a snow removal mechansm 10 chain driven by an engine 12 mounted on a frame 14 and orientable by a handle 16. Although not shown, the usual engine controls would be placed on the handle cross-bar 18 to permit regulation of the speed of the snow removal mechanism 10. FIGS. 2 and 3 show the snow removal mechanism in greater detail.

Two snow cutting members in the form of thin rectangular bars 20 and 22 connected to tubular members 24 and 26, respectively are shown and are each freely rotatable about a respective rst axis of rotation. Snow cutting member supports in the form of rods 28 and 30 extend through tubular members 24 and 26, respectively, and the respective irst axis of rotation are the longitudinal center lines of the rods 28 and 30. The outer diameters of the cylindrical rods 28 and 30 are less than the inner diameter of the tubular members 24 and 26, and the latter are suiciently shorter than the former to insure that the snow cutting members will be freely rotatable about their respective rst axis of rotation.

The cylindrical rods 28 and 30` are mounted at their ends to means adapted to rotate forwardly about a second axis of rotation. Such means comprise a pair of circular members 32 and 34 rotatably journaled to the frame 14. Circular members 32 and 34 share a common shaft member 36 and are driven through a sprocket 38 attached to one of the circular members. The second axis of rotation is the longitudinal centerline of the shaft member 36. The circular members preferably have outer annular rims 40 and 42, respectively, to lend rigidity thereto, and to provide a tracking surface as will be described.

As shown in FIGURES 2 and 3, the entire rotatable assembly is removably mounted in cheek plates 14a and 14b of the frame by inserting shaft member 36 into slot 15 in the forward edge of each cheek plate. Each end of shaft members 36 is mounted into the respective cheek plate by a bushing assembly 35. Bushing assembly 35 comprises a housing support 35a which is bolted to the respective cheek plate by bolts 3Sb and 35e, a hollow cylindrical outer bearing block 35d having a bearing race on the inner circumferential surface thereof, a set of ball bearings 35e, an inner cylindrical bearing block 35j having a bearing race on the outer circumferential surface thereof in radial alignment with the outer bearing race, and a bushing 35g positioned adjacent the outer surface of circular member 32 to position the rotatable assembly within the frame with little frictional resistance to rotation. When bolts 3Sb and 35C are removed, the entire rotatable assembly may be slipped out of the cheek plate slots and removed from the frame.

A motor mounting bracket is shown in FIGURES 2 and 3 as comprising two angle supports 12a and 12b to which the power means can be attached. Supports 12a and 12b are connected to the rear surface of reflector 44 by means such as welding, and to the rear portion of the frame 14 by a suitable bar 12C, which may be welded to the frame and to the angle supports. The mounting bracket adds to the rigidity of the frame 14.

A single snow cutting member could be employed but provision for at least two such members as shown achieves a dynamically-balanced mechanism. If more than two such members are provided, they should be located such that dynamic balance of the entire rotatable system is maintained. In the preferred embodiment shown in the figures, the length of snow cutting members 20 and 22 is such that their outer ends will extend to a close proximity to the outer edge of the circular members when rotated to a radial position in relation to the second axis of rotation. For certain conditions, it may even be desirable to have the ends of the bar members and 22 extend slightly beyond the outer edge of the circular members 32 and 34.

When the snow cutting member support is rotated about the second axis of rotation at relatively high speed, centrifugal force causes the snow cutting member to rotate about the tirst axis of rotation to a position extending outward from the first axis of rotation and radially away from the second axis of rotation. The rotation of the snow cutting member support is such that the snow cutting member is rotated about the second axis of rotation downwardly through a snow bank. When the snow cutting member contacts a bank of snow, it will reliect (rotate) upward about the iirst axis of rotation to a degree dependent upon the force with which it contacts the snow bank and dependent upon the resistance it meets in cutting a portion of the snow bank away. When the snow cutting member cuts or severs a portion of the snow bank away, the centrifugal force resulting from rotation about the second axis of rotation will cause the snow cutting member to re-assume a radial position with respect to the second axis of rotation. The resuling momentum created by re-assumption of this radial position is suflicient to cause the snow severed from the snow bank by the snow cutting member to be hurled into the snow deflector with a substantial enough force that such snow will be discharged from the snow deflector and fall a considerable distance from the snow removal apparatus.

In FIG. 3, the snow cutting members are shown in solid line section as they would appear when the rotatable mechanism is stationary. A dotted line position 20a and 22a for bar members 20 and 22 are shown which correspond to their respective positions (extending radially outward from the second axis of rotation) which they would assume when the circular members 32 and 34 are forwardly rotated about the second axis of rotation with suicient rotational speed. A second dotted line position Zlib is shown for bar member 20 which shows, in an exaggerated manner, the rotational upward deflection that might be caused by resistance incurred when bar member 20 is cutting into a snow bank. As stated previously, when this resistance disappears upon bar member 20` leaving the snow bank, the increase in angular momentum resulting from bar member 20 returning to position 20a will project the severed portion of snow along a discharge path dened by the arcuate surface of detlector 44 with substantial force. The freely rotatable nature of the snow cutting members are essential so that the above-described angular momentum effect can be used to maximum advantage. Tests have shown that this angular momentum effect results in snow being discharged and thrown out- Wardy a substantially greater distance than when the snow cutting members are -iixed in a radial position. IThus, these snow cutting members function as snow throwing members as well, with the lower portion of the snow detlector serving to trap severed snow against one of the members and the upper portion of the snow delector guiding snow discharge.

Snow deflecting means in the form of an arcuate deflector 44 is provided to discharge snow. This deector is conveniently mounted on the frame 14 by suitably placed Welds or by other means. Preferably, the deflector 44 is constructed to increase the rigidity of the frame 14. As shown in the figures, a lower portion of the deflector 44 has a semi-circular (or concave) cross-section of the same general conguration as the circular members 32 and 34, and an upper portion extends tangentially outward and upward from the lower portion. The angle of inclination of the upper portion will have a substantial effect on the distance that snow will be thrown outwardly, and the inclination angle may be varied to meet various conditions.

The rearward bottom portion of the frame 14 is provided with wheel assemblies 46 so that the snow removal apparatus may be easily wheeled around as required when not being used to remove snow. The bottom portion or snow skid 48 of the frame 14 also preferably has an arcuate (concave) cross-section so that the snow removal apparatus can be easily rocked back and forth from a snow-removal position to a wheelable position. In this regard, the power unit 12 is preferably so located on frame 14 that the ease with which the snow removal apparatus may be rocked back and forth is not impeded by the weight of the power unit.

As shown in FIGURE 3, circular members 32 and 34 are so mounted in the frame 14 with respect to the snow skid 48 that the lower circumferential portion of the rims 40 and 42 protr-udes beyond the forward edge of the snow skid 48. By this arrangement, members 62 and -34 are actually wheels with rims 40 and 42 serving as tracking surfaces and which can propel the apparatus forward when the apparatus is rocked forward from the snow skid 48 onto the wheels. This self-propelled feature of the invention can be employed to advance the apparatus into a snow bank and to transport the apparatus to and from storage. Because the apparatus can be rocked back and forth as described above, there is no need for a clutch mechanism to control the rotatable assembly. But of course a clutch mechanism may be employed if desired to engage and disengage the rotatable assembly to the engine.

What is `claimed is:

1. A snow removal apparatus comprising, a frame having a bottom downwardly dished snow skid, a front snow deilector, and a rear steering control handle, power means carried by the skid behind the deflector, a pair of laterally spaced wheels coupled together and journal-mounted on the frame about a wheel axis forwardly of the deflector, said wheels being arranged to be selectively manually rocked downwardly into ground engagement for forward propulsion and upwardly free of ground engagement with said skid serving as a ground engaging pivot, a power transfer means for driving said wheels from said power means, and combination snow cutting and throwing means journaled between said wheels and carried thereby for turning about a swing axis in parallel spaced relation to said wheel axis and arranged to swing outwardly from said swing axis by centrifugal force during rotation of said wheels t0 sever snow during downward travel and track adjacent said deflector during upward travel to trap and throw the severed snow.

2. A snow removal machine comprising, a frame having a bottom snow skid of substantial lateral and longitudinal extent which is downwardly dished gradually from all sides to a central low point, a front snow deflector, and a rear steering control handle, power means carried by the skid with its center of gravity behind said low point, a pair of laterally spaced wheels coupled together and journal-mounted on the frame about a wheel axis forwardly of the deector, said wheels being slightly above the level of said low point of the skid when the machine is at rest and being arranged to contact the ground surface forwardly of the skid when the skid is selectively manually rocked forwardly on said low point as a pivot, power transfer means for driving said Wheels from said power means at one side of the frame, combination snow severing and throwing means journaled between said wheels and carried thereby for turning about a swing axis in parallel spaced relation to said wheel axis and arranged to swing outwardly away fro-m said swing axis by centrifugal force during rotation of said wheels to sever snow during downward travel and track adjacent said detiector during upward travel to trap and throw the severed snow.

3. A snow removal machine according to claim 2 in which said combination snow severing and throwing means comprises an elongated blade which is freely journaled on a cross-rod in turn connected at its ends to said wheels so that the blade is free t0 swing radially outward relative to said wheel axis undef the iniiuence of centrifugal force to a radial extent adjacent a cylinder defined by the rims of said wheels.

4. A snow removal machine comprising, a frame with a front snow deiiector, a pair of powered ground-engageable wheels journal-mounted at opposite sides of the frame forwardly of said deector and coupled together, cross-rods joining said wheels in equal parallel spaced relation to the rotary axis of the wheels, axially elongated combination snow cutting and throwing blades journaled on said rods and free during rotation of the wheels to swing outwardly under the inuence of centrifugal force into respective planes each radial to said rotary axis of the wheels to sever snow during downward travel and track adjacent said deector during upward travel to trap and throw the severed snow.

6 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,506,054 5/1950 Agee et al. 56-26 2,638,691 5/1953 Wallack.

2,714,772 8/ 1955 Erickson.

2,768,453 10/1956 Adams 37-53 X 3,074,189 1/1963 Phelps.

10 ABRAHAM G. STONE, Primary Examiner.

ALAN E. KOPECKI, Assistant Examiner.

U.S. Cl. X.R. 

